The below write-up takes my original article here and formats in a way that specifically responds to a question Derringer Discoveries posed in their recent Newsletter.
I have cut and pasted the question and the response below with minor editing for readability in my journal format.
How do you see AI changing the future of music?
Ultimately, I have absolutely no idea how this will pan out…just a sense that it, in the aggregate, will not be for the better….I realize I can be a curmudgeon too. As you can see, I am using your podcast and your posed question(s) as my own muse to ponder and un-tangle this thorny knot of an issue in my own skull ; )
AI will soon make music faster, cheaper, and technically flawless—maybe even better than what humans can do alone. But the real question isn’t quality; it’s authenticity and respect for original creators. Copyright law allows for transformative use—building on existing works with new meaning or purpose—but if AI crosses that line and becomes merely imitative without credit, it becomes derivative and soulless. Properly crediting sources of inspiration and ensuring royalties are paid is crucial to preserving fairness and creative integrity.
As AI-generated music saturates the space, listeners may assume everything is machine-made unless there’s a visible performance component. That could push artists to prove their value live rather than in the studio as that is what the new market will demand as the only means to validate the truth and legitimacy of the music to some degree. Question: Does even performing AI generated content prove its legitimacy? More questions on questions : ) I have not thought through this deeply yet but sense a huge wave coming.
As someone who creates most of my music “in the box” and releases it without performing, this trend feels especially threatening. The enthusiasm for DIY, non-performed music crafted by human hands might fade, hurting my passion and the broader culture’s interest in authentic, imperfect art. The reality though is somewhere, in-between. It will probably not degrade my passion too much as I simply like to create. However, the audience for my music will likely fade as trust that it was authentically created will be lowered.
AI can be a powerful tool, and some may resist it as modern Luddites (old fuddy duddy's), but resistance alone isn’t enough. My hope is for balance—where AI assists human creativity, credits sources properly, and supports fair royalties. Yet I worry that convenience might dull our appetite for heartfelt, hand-made music and flood the world with soulless, polished sounds. The future is uncertain, and honestly, I’m not optimistic today but I am an idealist (can one be a curmudgeon and an idealist at the same time? : )—I hope we find a way to keep the soul alive.
Sincerely
Dave
David Husted Music
davidhusted.com
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